Inspiring EducatorsFri, 19 Feb 2016 16:21:07 +0000Thu, 23 May 2019 14:39:43 +0000Libsyn WebEngine 2.0http://www.inspiringeducators.net/
enhttp://www.inspiringeducators.net/sung@inspiringeducators.net (sung@inspiringeducators.net)http://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/6/7/b/8/67b85a31f72c620a/22_copy.jpgInspiring EducatorsSung Leeheroes,inspiringeducators,k12,memoirs,motivational,storytelling,teachertrainingnoieinspiringeducators@gmail.comepisodicIE74: Laurie Roberts. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 19 Feb 2016 16:21:07 +0000Happy Friday! We are back in Idaho to celebrate our victory in education with #FlyHighFri! Our unsung hero is Mrs. Laurie Roberts, an AP English teacher who has found passion in teaching and guiding motivated students for the past 28 years strong. Listen to one of the shining examples of what personal and professional commitment is all about, in and outside the classroom. Join Inspiring Educators as Laurie helps us celebrate education and shares her key to creating a stronger bong with students.]]>15:14noidaho,edublog,inspiringeducators,flyhighfri,eduroadtrip,laurierobertsIE73: Tammy McMorrow. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 12 Feb 2016 17:18:33 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate individual success in education. Joining us to share her #FlyHighFri moment of the week is Mrs. Tammy McMorrow of Kuna, Idaho. Tammy has been teaching first grade for 22 years in Idaho and while first grade has its challenges, she feels the rewards are greater. Tammy can't imagine teaching anyone but six-year olds and be forever in first. An avid reader and runner, Tammy joins us today with Inspiring Educators to share her victory for the week.

]]> ]]>17:37noteaching,success,tammy,edublog,educators,inspiring,mcmorrow,flyhighfriIE72: Simon Miller. #FlyHighFriSat, 06 Feb 2016 00:45:51 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate individual success in education. Joining us to share his #FlyHighFri moment of the week is Mr. Simon Miller of Kellog, Idaho. Simon is a technology coordinator, a Google certified educator, a Star Wars geek, and an avid runner. After spending some years as the technology director for his school, Mr. Miller recently returned to the classroom settings. A lifelong learner and a progressive educator, Simon joins us today with Inspiring Educators to share his victory for the week.]]>17:27nomiller,teaching,simon,idaho,educator,kellog,inspiringeducators,flyhighfri,leadedtechIE71: Jim Burson. A Coach's Coach.Sun, 31 Jan 2016 05:28:02 +0000Dr. James (Jim) F. Burson is a sought-after basketball coaching consultant and motivational speaker. He is known as a “coach’s coach” (Sports Illustrated) for his lifetime commitment to improving the quality of the game at all levels and his passion for working with coaches to help them become the best they can be.

Jim’s second book, The Daily Nugget: Motivations for Basketball Coaches and Everyone Who Loves the Game, was published in April 2015 and launched at the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) annual convention held during the 2015 Final Four tournament. His first book, the best-selling The Golden Whistle ~ Going Beyond: The Journey to Coaching Success, was published exactly one year earlier at the same event.

Jim is a consultant for Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball and was strategic marketing consultant for 94Fifty (Infomotion Sports) during its startup years. He created and led the Nike Coaches Learning Academy, an annual invitation-only workshop for Nike’s elite youth coaches.

Past president and life member of the NABC, “Guardians of the Game,” Burson is a member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, where he is also on the board of directors, the strategic planning committee and co-chairs the annual induction ceremony.

Sports Illustrated featured Jim in a famous article about the complex Princeton Offense, crediting him with “cracking the code” of the offense and dubbing him “the Connector” and “the Disseminator” for his role in sharing its secrets with coaches around the country.

An all-time top ten Division III coach, chaired DIII basketball for the NCAA for many years, was part of the selection process for the Gold Medal Olympic team that included Michael Jordan (’84), and was named All-Time Assistant Coach for the USA Olympic Sports Festival.

Jim had a distinguished 42-year career at Muskingum University as head coach of the men’s basketball team and as professor of physical and health education. He served twice as chair of his department while serving simultaneously as athletic director, and founded the school’s athletic hall of fame. He received the university’s distinguished alumni and distinguished faculty awards.

During his tenure he founded one of the earliest youth basketball camps, which ran for 40 years, and also led coaches’ camps.

Jim graduated from Muskingum and earned his PhD and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University.

]]>(Sports Illustrated) for his lifetime commitment to improving the quality of the game at all levels and his passion for working with coaches to help them become the best they can be.
Jim’s second book, The Daily Nugget: Motivations for Basketball Coaches and Everyone Who Loves the Game, was published in April 2015 and launched at the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) annual convention held during the 2015 Final Four tournament. His first book, the best-selling The Golden Whistle ~ Going Beyond: The Journey to Coaching Success, was published exactly one year earlier at the same event.
Jim is a consultant for Nike’s Elite Youth Basketball and was strategic marketing consultant for 94Fifty (Infomotion Sports) during its startup years. He created and led the Nike Coaches Learning Academy, an annual invitation-only workshop for Nike’s elite youth coaches.
Past president and life member of the NABC, “Guardians of the Game,” Burson is a member of the Ohio Basketball Hall of Fame, where he is also on the board of directors, the strategic planning committee and co-chairs the annual induction ceremony.
Sports Illustrated featured Jim in a famous article about the complex Princeton Offense, crediting him with “cracking the code” of the offense and dubbing him “the Connector” and “the Disseminator” for his role in sharing its secrets with coaches around the country.
An all-time top ten Division III coach, chaired DIII basketball for the NCAA for many years, was part of the selection process for the Gold Medal Olympic team that included Michael Jordan (’84), and was named All-Time Assistant Coach for the USA Olympic Sports Festival.
Jim had a distinguished 42-year career at Muskingum University as head coach of the men’s basketball team and as professor of physical and health education. He served twice as chair of his department while serving simultaneously as athletic director, and founded the school’s athletic hall of fame. He received the university’s distinguished alumni and distinguished faculty awards.
During his tenure he founded one of the earliest youth basketball camps, which ran for 40 years, and also led coaches’ camps.
Jim graduated from Muskingum and earned his PhD and master’s degrees from The Ohio State University.]]>01:05:02nojim,coach,education,teaching,basketball,coaching,ncaa,mentor,bursonIE70: Amy Fadeji. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 29 Jan 2016 18:59:21 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate individual success in education. Joining us to share her #FlyHighFri moment of the week is Mrs. Amy Fadeji. Amy is the Principal of Penngrove Elementary in Penngorve, California and always knew she wanted to be a school principal to guide and work with motivated teachers and students. A tech savvy and people centered leader, Amy recounts her journey from teacher to administrator and celebrates this week's moment of victory in education with Inspiring Educators.]]>13:43nopodcast,education,amy,edublog,educators,inspiring,fadeji,flyhifriIE69: Todd Schmidt. #FlyHighFriFri, 20 Nov 2015 07:38:39 +0000It's Friday and time to celebrate individual success in education. Joining us to share his #FlyHighFri moment of the week is the Principal of Harbor View Elementary in Corona Del Mar, Dr. Todd Schmidt. Dr. Schmidt is a born educator and always knew his passion was to teach and credits great role models in his teachers for paving the way to teaching. Determined to share his vision, Dr. Schmidt, became an administrator to better guide and work alongside his teachers. A true teachers' Principal, Todd joins Inspiring Educators to share his celebration in education for this week.]]>15:58notwitter,education,celebration,todd,schmidt,educators,inspiring,flyhighfriIE68: Allison Kerley. Flipped and Blended Classroom.Thu, 19 Nov 2015 06:31:09 +0000When you have lived abroad, you can never return home as the same person. All your preconceived notion of your home and the world is broadened and enhanced with real life experience. The ability to bring such valued lessons in life into the classroom is unique among the very passionate teachers who lead by example.

Our inspiring educator, Allison Kerley, has lived in Belgium and seven states before settling, for the time being, as an elementary teacher in Atlanta. Miss Kerley represents the vanguard of a new generation of educators who are tech savvy, progressive, and worldly. Miss Kerley's class is a model setting for integrated flip and blended learning into the curriculum. Her flipped class has led to better facilitating individualized lessons for her students, improved assessment, and increased engagement.

Miss Kerley is a member of the Fulton County Vanguard team, training and coaching staff at schools in technology integration and work with the district on personalizing learning. Miss Kerley is also the 2016 Teacher of the Year for Shakerag Elementary School.

Allison graduated from Clemson University and has been a member of the school marching band playing the flute and the piccolo. She remains loyal and is a huge Clemson Football fan.

]]>49:20noclass,education,learning,blended,allison,flipped,kerelyIE67: Paul Erickson. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 13 Nov 2015 21:04:08 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate our success in education with #FlyHighFri! Joining us to share his moment of victory for this week is Paul Erickson from Hutchinson, KS. Paul has been selected as the 2014 Kansas Elementary School Principal of the Year and after six years as principal of Inman Elementary School, Paul has already left a legacy of leadership that is benefiting not just his students and school but the entire community. Using the DuFour Professional Learning Community model as a school improvement framework, Mr. Erickson was able to greatly increase collaboration among staff and create a tiered system of intervention and enrichment that has resulted in unprecedented levels of student achievement on benchmark tests. Paul also worked collaboratively with teachers and district administrators to implement a technology initiative that has transformed the prekindergarten through sixth grade school into a model technology school. With iPads, SMART boards, Apple televisions, document cameras, and one-to-one environments in third through sixth grades, Inman earned the title of Apple Distinguished School in 2012. It now conducts an iPad Summer Summit which 400 educators statewide attend to learn best practices from the Inman staff. As a result, student engagement has “exploded,” the staff has had opportunities to shine among peers, and new and talented staff have been attracted to the school. Mr. Erickson also worked cooperatively with a town committee to pass a bond financing the addition of two new kindergarten classrooms, a four-year-old preschool, and a three-year-old preschool. Paul calls the new construction, “a 10,000-square-foot demonstration of the strong commitment our teachers, parents, and patrons have toward our students’ education.” Paul’s credentials include a B.S. from Fort Hays State University, an M.A. from Emporia State University, and a District Level Leadership from Wichita State University.]]>13:32nopaul,training,education,teacher,erickson,flyhighfriIE66: Tracy LaFreniere. Rhode Island 2016 Teacher of the Year.Tue, 10 Nov 2015 08:01:14 +0000Tracy Lafreniere teaches reading and writing as a Reading Specialist at North Smithfield Elementary School. At the time she was recognized as Rhode Island Teacher of the Year, she had been teaching for 17 years. Although she has always loved to read and to teach reading, she credits her training as a Reading Recovery teacher as her most significant inspiration because it changed her view about what was possible for struggling readers. She believes that children need to develop a love for reading early and that teaching children to read is the greatest gift we can give them. In addition to teaching and being highly active in her school community, Tracy has collaborated on many state and local projects including the Common Core Ambassador Team and the Rhode Island Writing Project. She is also an adjunct professor for the Providence College Graduate Literacy Program. She holds a degree in Elementary Education from Rhode Island College and a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University. ]]>41:31nothe,of,training,education,year,teach,teacher,tracy,island,rhode,educator,lafreniereIE65: Chris Longo. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 06 Nov 2015 17:15:30 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate our success in education with #FlyHighFri! Joining us to share his moment of victory this week is Dr. Chris Longo from New Milford, Connecticut. Dr. Longo started his educational career as a biology teacher at a middle school, and his passion to lead dedicated teachers and students has led to his current role as an assistant principal at Schaghticoke Middle School. Dr. Longo participates frequently on twitter with other inspiring educators and you can find and follow Chris on twitter by his handle @DrChrisLongo.]]>@DrChrisLongo.]]>09:40noadministration,chris,education,teaching,longo,inspire,flyhighfriIE64: Todd Irving. Leadership and Transforming Failing Schools.Thu, 05 Nov 2015 23:12:43 +0000Transforming a failing school should be ranked up there as one of the most difficult tasks a person can undertake. Reenergizing, motivating, and instilling confidence in the teaching and support staff for the marathon school year is no easy task, and we haven't even begun to mention about disruptive students and non-participation from parents. The depth of the problem becomes so deeply engrained in the school culture and problems so varied, hope is often blurred and buried in the daily struggle to maintain any sense and normalcy.

There are no easy solutions to such deeply rooted problems. The daunting task requires cooperation with all stakeholders: the staff, students, parents, and the surrounding community. To orchestrate the minute details of school improvements while having a clear big picture, the job takes a special leader to provide the level of trust during the lengthy process. Turing around failed schools and changing the school climate is our guest's specialty.

Mr. Todd Irving has spent almost 17 years working in demanding urban schools. While successfully guiding his current school in Orange County back to shape, Todd has never forgotten the core value of people centered leadership. In this episode of Inspiring Educators, Mr. Irving shares his philosophy in education, the value of every child in his school and their parents, and his unbreakable support for dedicated staff and teachers.

]]>52:41nopodcast,school,training,beach,poly,culture,education,long,schools,teacher,todd,failed,irving,transformingIE63: Victoria Curry. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 30 Oct 2015 15:33:09 +0000It’s Friday and time to celebrate our success in education with #FlyHighFri! Joining us to share her moment of victory this week is Mrs. Victoria Curry from the great state of New York. Victoria’s passion and enthusiasm for education first led her to teaching. She has since moved on to the challenging role of school administrating and now helping and guiding her staff to better facilitate students. Victoria has found great support in twitter and encourages other educators to find innovative and positive ideas through engagement found via twitter. You can find and follow Mrs. Curry on twitter by her handle @VictoriaCurry77.]]>@VictoriaCurry77.]]>11:53nopodcast,training,blog,education,curry,teacher,victoria,edublog,educators,inspiring,flyhighfriIE62: Travis Sevilla. An Art Teacher's Work in Progress.Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:40:04 +0000An opportunity to share one's passion as a teacher and help students reveal their talents, is a privilege and honor all educators share on a daily basis. Travis Sevilla is an artist and an educator who has recently found home as a multi-media/art instructor at Canyon Crest Academy. An avid outdoorsman participating in surfing, cycling, bodysurfing, rock climbing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Travis has a passion for learning from many of his endeavors. His lesson plans frequently translates life's pursuits and activities by introducing realistic and dynamic projects to students, incorporating the arts and design thinking. With heavy emphasis in creative and critical thinking, Travis' students perceived limitations and reality are often challenged.

Among recognitions and award received, Travis has been recognized by Otis College of Art and Design as the Art Teacher of the Year 2012 for excellence in arts instruction, recipient of FIDM Teacher Grant 2011 Fellow with the Ahimsa Center for Nonviolence Studies K-12, Cal Poly Pomona 2010/11 Fellow with the Center for Teaching Critical Thinking and Creativity (CTCTC), and is a San Diego State University Board Member for ARTHATCH: Teen Art Program.

]]>40:53nopodcast,training,education,travis,teaching,teacher,edublog,educators,inspiring,sevillaIE61: James Sturtevant. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 23 Oct 2015 16:10:23 +0000We are celebrating our weekly success in education with #FlyHighFri moment. Sharing his defining moment of the week is our past guest, James Sturtevant. A motivated and inspiring high school teacher from Ohio and the author of "You've Gotta Connect", James is always full of wisdom and wit. ]]>10:30noflyhighfri,celebrateeducationIE60: Maria Kisner. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 09 Oct 2015 07:30:00 +0000TGIF! So, let's celebrate our weekly success with #FlyHighFri. Joining Inspiring Educators today is a school counselor from Warren County, VA, Maria Kisner. Maria is all about instilling values and teaching life lessons to her crop of young ladies and gentlemen.

Maria participates with her #FlyHighFri at her school site as well as on twitter. Join in and share your victory of the week and finish the week strong with a sprint to the weekend!

]]>04:36noIE59: Laura Sullivan. 900 Voices.Thu, 08 Oct 2015 10:33:41 +0000Laura Sullivan is a GRAMMY® winning composer and recording artist. Her original music has been included in the score of two Emmy winning documentaries, as well as in many popular television programs and advertisements for Fortune 500 companies.

Her recordings consistently receive more than 4 million spins a month on Pandora alone, among many other stations around the world, resulting in broad international airplay. Her albums have charted in the top 2 on The Zone reporter, the internationally recognized New Age and ambient radio chart.

Her music publications are represented by Performing Rights organization BMI which holds more than 500 of her original compositions in her prolific Composer/Songwriter catalog. Laura is the composer, arranger and visionary for the epic crowdsourcing video, 900 Voices, produced by herself and her Grammy® winning husband, Eric Sullivan. 900 Voices involves the singing participation of 938 people around the world singing in 27 languages, all in 1 song.

Laura's 2015 collaborations include music created on forthcoming albums with Native American 17 year old virtuoso Gareth Laffely, as well as Grammy® nominated New Age artist Paul Avgerinos, among others.

]]>38:53noart,music,performance,artist,musician,laura,winning,sullivan,award,900,grammy,voicesIE58: Penny Sturtevant. People Centered Leadership.Tue, 06 Oct 2015 21:59:38 +0000The role of a school administrator is arguably one of the most challenging positions for any individual in a leadership position. The ability to provide personal attention to daily details of individual student, parent, or staff member while orchestrating the mass to a cohesive common goal requires a level of competence and patience very few perfect during their tenure. The clear difference between a leader instilling and providing a vision for the school and a manager merely maintaining the status quo, is the difference between a thriving and vibrant school of learners and an average school focused on percent gains on standardized tests.

Joining us on Inspiring Educators is Penny Sturtevant, a middle school Principal from Ohio. Penny's unlikely journey into education as a teacher, counselor, and to her current role as the Principal reflects her people centered style of leadership. The role of a Principal at top can be a lonely journey, but Penny's approach and philosophy, a great institution does not stand on any single leadership alone, but with an effective team, has set into motion a successful partnership with teachers, students, and parents.

]]>48:59noschool,training,leadership,teaching,teacher,penny,counseling,administrator,sturtevantIE57: Justin Birckbichler. #FlyHighFri.Fri, 02 Oct 2015 06:52:42 +0000On Friday, we celebrate! We celebrate our success in and outside the classroom. #FlyHighFri is catching on and joining us to share his moment of triumph this week is Justin Birckbichler. Justin is an elementary teacher in Virginia. Inspiring Educators interviewed Justin this year in episode 43. A tech savvy teacher, who's all about celebrating and sharing success, Justin is one of the co-founders of the #FlyHighFri movement and today, he has the mic! ]]>On Friday, we celebrate! We celebrate our success in and outside the classroom. #FlyHighFri is catching on and joining us to share his moment of triumph this week is Justin Birckbichler. Justin is an elementary teacher in Virginia. Inspiring Educators interviewed Justin this year in episode 43. A tech savvy teacher, who's all about celebrating and sharing success, Justin is one of the co-founders of the #FlyHighFri movement and today, he has the mic! ]]>07:24noeducation,teaching,success,flyhighfri,stayingpositiveIE56: Mark Barnes. Brilliant or InsaneFri, 02 Oct 2015 05:40:19 +0000Brilliant or Insane publisher and Hack Learning creator Mark Barnes has written six books on education technology, student-centered learning, using mobile devices and social media in the classroom, global learning and 21st-century assessment, using his revolutionary SE2R system. Mark Barnes is a recognized thought leader and one of education’s most dynamic speakers. A prolific content curator, Mark’s social media shares reach more than three million global educators every month.

As founder and publisher at Times 10 Books, Mark collaborates with some of education’s brightest authors and content creators, in an effort to re-imagine teaching and learning. The first book in Mark’s Hack Learning Series, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School, debuted at Number 1 on Amazon in both Education Leadership and Professional Development, and it became an Amazon Bestseller in its first week. Mark’s Hack Learning mobile app delivers weekly Learn-Today-Implement-Tomorrow strategies to all education shareholders, through multiple audio/visual channels.

]]>Brilliant or Insane publisher and Hack Learning creator Mark Barnes has written six books on education technology, student-centered learning, using mobile devices and social media in the classroom, global learning and 21st-century assessment, using his revolutionary SE2R system. Mark Barnes is a recognized thought leader and one of education’s most dynamic speakers. A prolific content curator, Mark’s social media shares reach more than three million global educators every month.
As founder and publisher at Times 10 Books, Mark collaborates with some of education’s brightest authors and content creators, in an effort to re-imagine teaching and learning. The first book in Mark’s Hack Learning Series, Hacking Education: 10 Quick Fixes for Every School, debuted at Number 1 on Amazon in both Education Leadership and Professional Development, and it became an Amazon Bestseller in its first week. Mark’s Hack Learning mobile app delivers weekly Learn-Today-Implement-Tomorrow strategies to all education shareholders, through multiple audio/visual channels.]]>55:30notraining,mark,education,teacher,barnes,reform,educators,inspiringIE55: Mari Venturino. #FlyHighFri.Sat, 26 Sep 2015 01:07:45 +0000It's Friday! The week's work is done, but we know, the work is really never done. There are essays or labs to grade while catching some football games over the weekend and lessons to be planned for the upcoming week, but today is Friday. First, we are going to celebrate our victory in the classroom, however small or big.

Mari Venturino is teacher in San Diego and has started a movement at her school to share the positive experiences between her colleagues every Friday. She and her digital colleague in Virginia, Justin Birkbichler, opened it to the world via Twitter with a hashtag #FlyHighFri. Each week educators all over join in and post their moments of triumph.

So every Friday, we will #FlyHighFri and finish strong! Today, we begin with Mari's defining educational moment of the week.

]]>10:02nostrong,education,positive,tgif,finish,flyhighfriIE54: Jonathan Wai. Recognizing Spatial Talent In Students.Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:20:51 +0000Jonathan Wai, Ph.D., is a research scientist at the Duke University Talent Identification Program and a visiting researcher at Case Western Reserve University. He did his postdoctoral work at Duke University, holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, and graduated from Claremont McKenna College.

He researches and writes about the development of talent, broadly conceived, and its impact on society. His interests focus on the role of cognitive abilities, education, and other factors that contribute to the development of expertise in education, occupation, and innovation. Additionally, he is interested in policy implications of developing (or failing to develop) talent, and connecting his work with the larger global conversation.

Dr. Wai's work has started international conversations, and has been covered in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC, Financial Times, The Economist, Scientific American, Wired, Education Week, Nature, Science, and newspapers all over the world. In addition to academic publications, his public writing has appeared in Psychology Today, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Education Week, NPR, and many others. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today, Business Insider, Quartz, and others, where his ideas have reached millions of people. He has been profiled in Rotman Magazine.

His work has won multiple international Mensa Awards for Research Excellence. He has served on the board of directors of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. He lives with his wife, son, and cat.

]]>Jonathan Wai, Ph.D., is a research scientist at the Duke University Talent Identification Program and a visiting researcher at Case Western Reserve University. He did his postdoctoral work at Duke University, holds a doctorate from Vanderbilt University, and graduated from Claremont McKenna College.

He researches and writes about the development of talent, broadly conceived, and its impact on society. His interests focus on the role of cognitive abilities, education, and other factors that contribute to the development of expertise in education, occupation, and innovation. Additionally, he is interested in policy implications of developing (or failing to develop) talent, and connecting his work with the larger global conversation.

Dr. Wai's work has started international conversations, and has been covered in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, CNBC, Financial Times, The Economist, Scientific American, Wired, Education Week, Nature, Science, and newspapers all over the world. In addition to academic publications, his public writing has appeared in Psychology Today, Los Angeles Times, Forbes, Education Week, NPR, and many others. He is a contributing writer to Psychology Today, Business Insider, Quartz, and others, where his ideas have reached millions of people. He has been profiled in Rotman Magazine.

His work has won multiple international Mensa Awards for Research Excellence. He has served on the board of directors of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation. He lives with his wife, son, and cat.

]]>20:32nothe,education,psychology,teaching,today,next,jonathan,talent,einstein,spatial,waiIE53: Teaching Outside the Classroom. Just As Important.Wed, 23 Sep 2015 07:43:49 +0000Some of the most meaningful dialogues I've had with students occurred outside the class time. The opportunity afforded me to get to know my students on a one to one level, especially the more introverted ones. Free from peer pressure and the the urgency to complete the lesson plan for the day, the calm of the morning and the afternoon was the perfect time to discuss all things important in life.

There's a side to a student who volunteers to come out to play a sport or joins a club, teachers are fortunate to be part of. The same is afforded to a student; they see a wonderful part of the teacher who volunteers her time to share a common interest and bond. I've never taken for granted how spending time outside the class to listen to a student share about his or her goals, family, or life meant so much to both of us. When educators take the time to create an opportunity for students outside the classroom, the implication for student success, academically and emotionally, is immeasurably enhanced.

]]>Some of the most meaningful dialogues I've had with students occurred outside the class time. The opportunity afforded me to get to know my students on a one to one level, especially the more introverted ones. Free from peer pressure and the the urgency to complete the lesson plan for the day, the calm of the morning and the afternoon was the perfect time to discuss all things important in life.

There's a side to a student who volunteers to come out to play a sport or joins a club, teachers are fortunate to be part of. The same is afforded to a student; they see a wonderful part of the teacher who volunteers her time to share a common interest and bond. I've never taken for granted how spending time outside the class to listen to a student share about his or her goals, family, or life meant so much to both of us. When educators take the time to create an opportunity for students outside the classroom, the implication for student success, academically and emotionally, is immeasurably enhanced.

]]>05:43notraining,education,student,teacher,motivation,educators,inspiring,involvementIE52: Stacey Lindes. #PodcastPD.Tue, 22 Sep 2015 06:24:14 +0000Stacey Lindes is a Teacher Resource Specialist for Technology (an exceptionally long title for a tech integrator/innovator/coach) in Central New Jersey (yes, it really does exist). In her current position, she works in a 4th and 5th grade school supporting the 1:1 GAFE program.

A two time graduate from The College of New Jersey, Stacey earned a her MAT in Elementary Education. Since that time, Stacey has taught 2nd, 3rd, and, most recently, 1st grades and has experience in preschool and 4th and 5th grades.

Stacey is also the founder of #PodcastPD, a weekly Twitter chat that takes place Sunday evenings 8:30 eastern. Join her each week as she and co-moderators AJ Bianco and Chris Nesi lead the discussion about how we can learn and grow using podcasts as professional development.

Finally, Stacey is a dedicated, albeit SLOW runner who enjoys using the "alone time" to reflect on education, changes in technology, and the practical marriage of the two. Having completed multiple half marathons (including the Trenton and Disney Princess Half Marathons) and numerous 5Ks, Stacey has had many miles during which to have "running reflections" and "running thoughts". This site is her effort to share those ideas with the world.

]]>24:10nopodcast,training,teacher,stacey,edtech,educators,inspiring,lindes,podcastpdIE51: Burned Out Teachers. Doing the Right Thing.Mon, 21 Sep 2015 06:51:21 +0000Burned out teachers can easily throw in the towel and relegate themselves into doing the minimal work. Some do, yet others don't. Why does one group give up, while others stay in and continue the good fight?]]>Burned out teachers can easily throw in the towel and relegate themselves into doing the minimal work. Some do, yet others don't. Why does one group give up, while others stay in and continue the good fight?]]>05:20noeducation,teaching,teachers,teacher,burnoutIE50: Fear of Public Speaking. The Power of Words.Sat, 19 Sep 2015 05:22:56 +0000Fear of public speaking rates at the top of all fears in the US, more so than the fear of flying, heights, spiders, and even clowns. For a new teacher, the anticipation of delivering her first lesson to a classroom of students can keep her up all night. Seasoned veteran teachers may have perfected his craft or his delivery has become predictable and dull over the years.

One year, to improve my public speaking skills, I signed up with an acting class. It was one of the most fun and enjoyable classes I've taken. The course helped me to deliver a more animated and lively lectures to my students. Recently, to continue to improve my pubic speaking skills, I've enrolled with a local Toastmasters International Group.

In this "between classes" episode, I discuss the value of groups such as Toastmasters, my personal experience with the group, and the importance of refining our speaking skills to better serve our students.

]]>06:39nopodcast,of,speaking,education,public,fear,international,teaching,toastmastersIE49: John Linney. School Transformation Specialist.Thu, 17 Sep 2015 06:41:31 +0000John Linney (M.A.) is an international speaker, trainer, podcast host and author. As a “climate specialist,” he has provided services and training to over 400 educational institutions, foundations, community partnerships, and organizations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico, & Northern Ireland.

John has worked in public and private schools and colleges and as a youth development and organizational climate educator. For over a decade, he has worked on improving school climates, integrating full service community schools, youth engagement, and bullying and violence prevention for staff, students and parents. John also serves as a founding Director of the International School Climate Institute.

John has been the keynote speaker at several conferences and has been a featured guest on numerous local and national television and radio programs in the U.S. and Mexico including C-SPAN, Univision, and National Public Radio. He has written several publications and is co-author of “Safe School Ambassadors: Harnessing youth power to stop bullying and violence.” Best-selling author Deepak Chopra says of John’s work, “It is the only sane solution for ensuring security in our society.” John is also the host of a top ranked Education podcast, “Edspiration.”

]]>“It is the only sane solution for ensuring security in our society.” John is also the host of a top ranked Education podcast, “Edspiration.”

]]>01:06:35nopodcast,john,school,blogging,education,climate,transformation,specialist,educators,inspiring,educhat,linneyIE48: One Year of Inspiring Educators.Thu, 17 Sep 2015 00:39:20 +0000Time flies when you're having fun! It's been one year since the launching of Inspiring Educators. After 47 episodes, downloads in 98 countries, and 48 states (come on Alaska and Rhode Island), I'm looking forward to the great promise of what season two holds for IE.

The process of building a podcast has been a steep learning curve, but all the effort has totally been worth it. I'm still learning and it's more than just a work in progress, but it is just that--a progress. I had all the initial squadron of butterflies flying out of formation in my stomach, but looking back, I shudder at the thought of never taking that initial step. I learned so much and met great individuals I would have never met if I didn't embark on this path.

The process has been an educational one, and I have learned so much interacting with brilliant educators, thought leaders, writers, and passionate individuals getting involved. I am privileged to be in a company of these unsung heroes. It's like falling in love all over again, and I'm motivated to do more. One more cliche. They say it's not the destination, but the journey. So true!

I hope many of you will continue to listen in, provide feedbacks, and share my little program with your friends and colleagues. There's a lot of work ahead, but I'm having a lot of fun on this road not taken. I thank you for the many support I've received throughout the year and one more favor, por favor. If you can provide a rating and a brief comment on iTunes for the value of my program, I am grateful. So, as usual, until next time, carpe diem!

]]>05:09nopodcast,training,education,teaching,students,teacher,motivation,educators,inspiringIE47: Brian Sztabnik. Talks With Teachers.Tue, 15 Sep 2015 06:09:29 +0000Brian is a veteran English teacher and former basketball coach in New York. His dedication to education extends beyond the final school bell and the confines of his classroom. By day, a mild manner English teacher and by night, Brian is a husband, father, Twitter chat host, podcaster, and blogger.

Brian's firm belief, great ideas should be shared and celebrated, is the keystone foundation by which helped his students outperform the world on the AP Literature and Composition exam. His passion to share great ideas in education has helped catapult his podcast, Talks With Teachers to the No.1 in the K-12 category on iTunes. Brian has also contributed writings on Edutopia, EdWeek, Heineman, and AdLIT. His contributions has earned Brian the Bammy Educators' Choice Award in 2015 for Education Commentator/Blogger.

]]>30:09nopodcast,talks,blog,education,brian,teachers,with,chat,educators,inspiring,sztabnikIE46: Andy Weir. The Martian Shares His Tale.Wed, 02 Sep 2015 04:27:32 +0000Andy Weir was first hired as a programmer for a national laboratory at age fifteen and has been working as a software engineer ever since. He is also a lifelong space nerd and a devoted hobbyist of subjects like relativistic physics, orbital mechanics, and the history of manned spaceflight. The Martian is his first novel.

In this episode of Inspiring Educators, I talk with Andy about his upbringing and how he gained interest in science fiction and writing. Among other topics, Andy provides his viewpoint on education in society and his unique journey into publishing success. Join us and listen to the serendipitous journey of our favorite Martian on earth.

]]>The Martian is his first novel.
In this episode of Inspiring Educators, I talk with Andy about his upbringing and how he gained interest in science fiction and writing. Among other topics, Andy provides his viewpoint on education in society and his unique journey into publishing success. Join us and listen to the serendipitous journey of our favorite Martian on earth. ]]>49:52nofiction,the,education,sci,fi,andy,martian,educators,inspiring,weirIE45: John Andrew Williams. Academic Life Coaching.Sat, 01 Aug 2015 22:19:00 +0000John was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in the rural South Hills and spent his summers between academic years working on a farm picking corn in the morning and tomatoes in the afternoons. He also wrestled and played football, being captain of the Varsity football team and placing 3rd in State his senior year. He attended Brown University and graduated with a degree in Classics in 2003. He taught Latin at Wheeler High School from 2002 to 2004. Summer 2004 he and his newly-wed wife, Amois, moved to southern Oregon to be near her family. By some freak alignment of the stars he landed another High School Latin position at St. Mary’s, literally the only High School Latin teaching position within a 300 mile radius. It was at St. Mary’s the John developed the Academic Life Coaching Program for four years, from 2004 to 2008. With the Academic Life Coaching Program he attempted to fill the gap between what students were learning in classrooms and what was useful in life.

What is academic life coaching and why is it gaining momentum? John joins Inspiring Educators to explain how academic life coaching began, evolved, and continuing to grow internationally.

]]>55:58nojohn,training,life,williams,education,teaching,teacher,coaching,andrew,edublog,academic,educators,inspiring,educhatIE44: Jessica Lahey. The Gift of Failure.Tue, 28 Jul 2015 00:00:35 +0000Jessica Lahey is an educator, author, and speaker. She writes the bi-weekly column "The Parent-Teacher Conference" for the New York Times, is a contributing writer for The Atlantic, and a commentator on Vermont Public Radio. Her book, The Gift of Failure: How the Best Parents Learn to Let Go So Their Children Can Succeed, will be published by Harper Collins and available August 11, 2015.

Jessica joins us today on Inspiring Educators to discuss her new book and the unintentional consequences of over-parenting. Gift of Failure provides a wonderful historical chronology of change in parenting role and societal expectations from our adolescents. The book is also a personal account from a viewpoint of a mother and a classroom teacher struggling and succeeding on finding a balance between providing and empowering her own children and students. Most importantly, Jessica's book challenges us, as parents or teachers, to reassess our approach to teaching and provides valued guidelines for our daily interactions with teens.

Join us as we celebrate our launch of Season 2, episode 44: The Gift of Failure!

]]>49:15notraining,jessica,teaching,parenting,teacher,helicopter,independence,edublog,educators,inspiring,lahey,educhatIE43: Justin Birckbichler. Closing the Tech Gap in the Classroom.Wed, 24 Jun 2015 18:09:09 +0000Justin Birckbichler's goal is to bridge the technology gap for his students at an early age. His creative, project based, tech implemented lessons, provide his students with a high level of autonomy to instill confidence and experience based outcomes. However, it's not all about technology. Students sitting and bouncing on yoga balls for seats and implementing "Hunger Game" for test reviews provide a window into a vibrant learning atmosphere this young educator has created and shared through his popular blog.

Our inspiring educator today is an energetic 4th Grade Teacher from Front Royal, Virginia. Mr. B is an aspiring technology coach, Google Educator, WCPS leader in technology, and a Bammy Award Nominee in the category of Elementary School Teacher of The Yearby the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences.

]]>Elementary School Teacher of The Year by the Academy of Education Arts and Sciences. ]]>52:31nopodcast,training,education,teaching,teachers,k12,teacher,edublog,educators,inspiring,educationblogIE42: Jennifer Gonzalez. Cult of Pedagogy.Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:47:18 +0000Jennifer Gonzalez is a National Board Certified educator and the creator of the popular education website, "Cult of Pedagogy." Having taught and inspired her students for eight years, Jennifer eventually left teaching to raise a family. Once a teacher, always a teacher. Jennifer continued to pursue her passion in teaching by guiding future educators at the collegiate level, ensuring her expertise is continued in good hands. An educator who has always been reinventing herself, Jennifer's talent and knowledge would eventually reach far greater audience.

If you build it, they will come! "I hope to create what I did not have myself: a vibrant, encouraging, stimulating community of teachers, supporting each other toward excellence. I believe if we can reach across the limits of geography and find each other, there’s no limit to the amazing things we can accomplish." The Cult of Pedagogy was born.

Join us and listen to our inspiring educator, Jennifer Gonzalez, as she explains her journey and how the Cult is educating, sharing, and connecting educators worldwide.

]]>01:07:29nopodcast,of,training,education,teaching,students,pedagogy,teacher,cult,edublogs,educators,inspiring,edutopia,edchatIE41: Tom Henderson. Physics For Better Living.Wed, 10 Jun 2015 19:35:43 +0000Our Inspiring Educator today is a high school physics teacher at the Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. Mr. Tom Henderson has been teaching physics and chemistry since 1989 and a pioneering developer of an online tutorial guide for students and educators. As the creator of the popular physics site, "The Physics Classroom", Tom has been working tirelessly on the development of the website since 1996. When not teaching and not working on The Physics Classroom, Tom enjoys time with his family, gardening, home projects, reading, and outdoor activities.

Tom joins Inspiring Educators to share his journey as a teacher and his approach and philosophy on engaging and motivating his students.

]]>48:36nopodcast,education,physics,teachers,k12,motivation,teachertraining,inspiringeducatorsIE40: My Gap Year From TeachingTue, 09 Jun 2015 00:37:12 +0000In 2006, I took a leave of absence, a gap year, from teaching to travel and explore the world. It was a pause in my teaching career to reassess my life and to this day, the single most important decision I have made for myself in my adult life.

In this episode, I discuss my reasons for pursuing a leave of absence, the process with my district, and life on the road.

It's "between classes" and time to shoot the breeze!

]]>49:11nopodcast,of,education,year,teaching,gap,leave,absence,sabbaticalIE39: Joe Rivera. The Power Of Silence. Lessons From Teaching The Deaf.Wed, 27 May 2015 02:35:57 +0000As a high school student, Joe was already assisting his teachers in communicating with the deaf students through sign language, often filling in for the interpreters running late. Even with his limited knowledge of the American Sign Language, Joe played a pivotal role in bridging the communication gap for his fellow students and teachers. His passion for the silent language and strong desire to empower the deaf students would lead to his current position as a teacher.

Mr. Rivera is a middle and high school teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing students at Los Angeles’ one of a kind school for the deaf, the Marlton School. The many challenges Mr. Rivera’s students face range from the daily routines of the classroom to effectively communicating within their own neighborhoods and even basic expression within their own households; many family members don’t know sign language. As Joe has done for his deaf classmates in high school, Mr. Rivera once again is playing a pivotal role in bringing families together. Frequently, Mr. Rivera is the only person who is able to effectively communicate the needs and feelings of his students to their parents.

Joe's story was featured on CBS News as one of the inspiring young teachers making a difference and joins us today on Inspiring Educators to share his inaugural year as a teacher. Like a magician, without spoken words, Mr. Rivera brings laughter to his students and inspires them towards wonderful possibilities in their lives.

]]>41:34nopodcast,and,of,hearing,education,teaching,students,hard,motivation,deaf,lausd,inspiringIE38: Henry Mulzac. One Isn’t Appreciative Until He Sees Less.Fri, 01 May 2015 02:16:57 +0000As educators, we are responsible for having a diverse range of knowledge that goes beyond our subject matters. We have to be open to accommodate the increasing number of cultures and ethnic backgrounds in our students yet strive to always find and solidify the common bond in all of us.

What if, you were placed in one of your student's country? How would you acclimate to the language, culture, their unique daily routines, and deal with the possible shortcomings in the infrastructure? It's a real gut check as an educator. How we adapt to varying scenarios and our abilities to overcome the many daily challenges we face in our classroom environment allows us to thrive in success or painfully whiter away. What do you stand to gain by being a fish out of the water? How does embarking on a road less taken allow us to evolve into a more effective teacher?

Henry Mulzac is a former Peace Corps volunteer who has served in Belize from 1975 to 1977. "From a Ghetto Jungle Brown Stone to a Jungle Brown Hut" is how Henry's experience has been summed up as one of the featured articles written on the Peace Corps' Webpage. Henry joins us today on Inspiring Educators to share his story as a volunteer and how two years in the jungle of Belize has transformed his life and continues to provide inspiration to this day.

]]>01:06:52nopodcast,training,road,education,corps,teachers,volunteering,peace,teacher,henry,taken,less,belize,mulzacIE37: Paul Smith. Lead With A Story. A Tale From A Master Story Teller.Thu, 05 Mar 2015 07:34:55 +0000As educators, we seek to motivate our students, provide perspective, and draw the big picture to make sense of sometimes the obscure concepts that is at times lost to a population of students lacking the vital experience based knowledge. Experience is the best teacher and the next best thing is sharing lessons through a story. The ability to have students hang on every word spoken, at the edge of their seats, and move them to be inspired and to action is an art form. The art of story telling has been adopted by major US firms such as Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and others to motivate and empower its employees. Can you apply such corporate technique in the classrooms?

Paul Smith is a popular keynote speaker and a corporate trainer in leadership and storytelling techniques, and former executive and 20-year veteran of The Procter & Gamble Company. He is also the author of the best selling book Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire. His current area of research is the use of stories for character development in children. His new book on that topic is titled Parenting with a Story: Real-life lessons in character for parents and children to share.

As part of his research on the effectiveness of storytelling, Paul has personally interviewed over 200 executives and leaders in over 20 countries. His work on leadership and storytelling has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Time, Forbes, The Washington Post, PR News, Success Magazine, CIO Magazine, Investors Business Daily, Marketing Research Magazine, the American Banking Journal, and London’s Edge Magazine, among others.

Paul was most recently the director of consumer research for Procter & Gamble’s $6 billion global paper business where he led a research team across four continents. Previously, he was responsible for leading the development of P&G’s global $80 billion sales forecasting capability. In his 20 years at P&G, he also held leadership positions in corporate finance, manufacturing plants, and sales working closely with executives at major retailers around the world like Walmart, Costco, BJ’s, Asda, and Sam’s Club.

Paul holds a bachelors degree in economics, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and two sons in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio.]]>As educators, we seek to motivate our students, provide perspective, and draw the big picture to make sense of sometimes the obscure concepts that is at times lost to a population of students lacking the vital experience based knowledge. Experience is the best teacher and the next best thing is sharing lessons through a story. The ability to have students hang on every word spoken, at the edge of their seats, and move them to be inspired and to action is an art form. The art of story telling has been adopted by major US firms such as Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and others to motivate and empower its employees. Can you apply such corporate technique in the classrooms?Paul Smith is a popular keynote speaker and a corporate trainer in leadership and storytelling techniques, and former executive and 20-year veteran of The Procter & Gamble Company. He is also the author of the best selling book Lead with a Story: A Guide to Crafting Business Narratives That Captivate, Convince, and Inspire. His current area of research is the use of stories for character development in children. His new book on that topic is titled Parenting with a Story: Real-life lessons in character for parents and children to share.As part of his research on the effectiveness of storytelling, Paul has personally interviewed over 200 executives and leaders in over 20 countries. His work on leadership and storytelling has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, Time, Forbes, The Washington Post, PR News, Success Magazine, CIO Magazine, Investors Business Daily, Marketing Research Magazine, the American Banking Journal, and London’s Edge Magazine, among others.Paul was most recently the director of consumer research for Procter & Gamble’s $6 billion global paper business where he led a research team across four continents. Previously, he was responsible for leading the development of P&G’s global $80 billion sales forecasting capability. In his 20 years at P&G, he also held leadership positions in corporate finance, manufacturing plants, and sales working closely with executives at major retailers around the world like Walmart, Costco, BJ’s, Asda, and Sam’s Club.His keynote speaking and training clients include international giants like Hewlett Packard, Ford Motor Company, Bayer Medical, Abbott, Novartis, Progressive Insurance, Novartis, Merrill Lynch, Kaiser Permanente, Luxottica, and Procter & Gamble among dozens of others.Paul holds a bachelors degree in economics, and an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and two sons in the Cincinnati suburb of Mason, Ohio.]]>58:45nopodcast,paul,a,story,speaking,keynote,smith,with,teacher,motivation,telling,lead,ag,educators,inspiring,trainging,laflyIE36: Kyle Gurkovich. Be Comfortable Getting Uncomfortable.Sun, 22 Feb 2015 01:49:34 +0000How do you compete as a teacher with Youtube, Facebook, iPads, smartphones, and all other distractions influencing your children and our students in the classroom? How do you get students to put down their smart phones, stay focused, on task, listen, and work together towards progress? Visualize teaching math to eight graders. That's a daunting task for anyone, and it takes a very special teacher to inspire and lead a group of 13 and 14 year old teenagers to succeed in and outside the classroom.

Our inspiring educator today is Kyle Gurkovich, a middle school math teacher at Quibbletown Middle School in Piscataway NJ. Kyle has unique methods to motivate his students, keep them inspired, and engaged in his classroom. Join us and learn why Kyle will do whatever it takes to ensure his students' success and happiness. Then ponder the superhuman feat that got Mr. Gurkovich in the Guinness book of Worlds' Records.]]>How do you compete as a teacher with Youtube, Facebook, iPads, smartphones, and all other distractions influencing your children and our students in the classroom? How do you get students to put down their smart phones, stay focused, on task, listen, and work together towards progress? Visualize teaching math to eight graders. That's a daunting task for anyone, and it takes a very special teacher to inspire and lead a group of 13 and 14 year old teenagers to succeed in and outside the classroom. Our inspiring educator today is Kyle Gurkovich, a middle school math teacher at Quibbletown Middle School in Piscataway NJ. Kyle has unique methods to motivate his students, keep them inspired, and engaged in his classroom. Join us and learn why Kyle will do whatever it takes to ensure his students' success and happiness. Then ponder the superhuman feat that got Mr. Gurkovich in the Guinness book of Worlds' Records.]]>53:46nopodcast,training,stories,life,story,inspirational,education,world,record,teaching,teacher,kyle,telling,guinness,dedication,educators,inspiring,pullups,gurkovich,recrordIE35: Rick Hanson. Happiness, Love, and Wisdom in Education.Fri, 20 Feb 2015 06:57:02 +0000Our inspiring educator today is Dr. Rick Hanson, a neuro-psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide.

Dr. Hanson joins inspiring educators today and shares his journey as an educator and researcher. A prolific writer and speaker on the topic of modern brain science discussing stress, happiness, inner strength, and confidence, Dr. Hanson provides a unique viewpoint and perspective on the evolution of modern educational system and its impact on an individual and societal level. ]]>Our inspiring educator today is Dr. Rick Hanson, a neuro-psychologist, Senior Fellow of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, and New York Times best-selling author. His books include Hardwiring Happiness, Buddha’s Brain, Just One Thing, and Mother Nurture. Founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, he’s been an invited speaker at Oxford, Stanford, and Harvard, and taught in meditation centers worldwide. Dr. Hanson joins inspiring educators today and shares his journey as an educator and researcher. A prolific writer and speaker on the topic of modern brain science discussing stress, happiness, inner strength, and confidence, Dr. Hanson provides a unique viewpoint and perspective on the evolution of modern educational system and its impact on an individual and societal level. ]]>47:22nopodcast,story,education,psychology,meditation,teaching,telling,hanson,rick,educators,inspiringIE34: James Sturtevant. You've Gotta Connect With Your Students!Mon, 12 Jan 2015 01:27:25 +0000Remember the scene from "The Dead Poet's Society", when Robin Williams character Mr. Keatings guided his students out to the trophy case in the hallways, had his students lean in and stare into an old black and white photo of the bygone football team of the past and hauntingly whispered in slow crescendo,"carpe diem...seize the day..." Who in the audience wasn't moved by the powerful yet humble and touching scene between an inspiring teacher and group of teens navigating through life? Sitting in my reality between consuming popcorn and contemplating life, I have watched the movie as an inspired college student and later shared the scene literally 100's of times with my students and the effect, year after year, class after class, has demonstrated the importance and value of making a connection with our students.

With all the background noise of curriculum, common core, standardized testing, pedagogy, etc., at the core of our business of education is one of relationship. The ability for a talented instructor to cross all ethnic, social, economic, language, and racial divide to connect and earn mutual trust between the teacher and the student trumps everything. Our inspiring educator today is Mr. James Sturtevant. A veteran high school social studies teacher in Columbus, Ohio and the author of the book, "You've gotta connect." In his book, Mr. Sturtevant successfully applies 30 years of classroom experience, systematically breaks down, and provides valued points and techniques on how to connect with our students. He challenges our own self-perception as educators and provides a gut check for our role and mission in the classroom. Mr. Sturtevant explains the key types of relationships in our schools often ignored in the discussion. Join us and make the connection!

]]>01:08:28nopodcast,training,story,education,k12,passion,teacher,telling,motivate,connect,inspire,educators,inspiring,gotta,youveIE33: Seth Sherwood. Reinvent. Take Risks. Push Past Your Comfort Zone!Sat, 10 Jan 2015 20:43:04 +0000Our inspiring educator today is a professional keynote speaker and a certified facilitator with Premier International Training Company. Mr. Seth Sherwood is a former elementary and high school teacher and once a Peace Corps volunteer in South America. Seth holds an MBA from the University of New Haven and recently published his first book, "Trains Make U-turns", Simple Steps to get your life on track and empower others. Among Seth's many accolades, he was once a first place winner of a Spanish variety entertainment television. Seth is fluent in Spanish, a musician, and his ability to constantly reinvent himself, take risks, and push past his comfort zone has inspired many in and outside the classroom. I'm honored to put the spotlight for this show on a remarkable friend and a former colleague.]]>37:07noIE32: Carlos Granthon. Revolutionizing Music Education In Peru.Thu, 01 Jan 2015 04:44:52 +0000Making a difference. Providing an opportunity. Inspiring! Our inspiring educator today is a Peruvian Music professor. An instructor at a high school and the highly regarded Universidad Catolica Del Peru, he was the founder of the first College Big Band in Peru.

Professor Carlos Granthon is self-educated and grew up in a tough economic condition with few opportunities. Now an advocate for reaching out to the needy community and some of the poorest neighborhoods in Peru, Carlos provides a hope for Peruvian children to pursue music and a possibility for music to become a passionate profession of choice. His work has inspired the Peruvian government at a national level. An innovator who has worked with the Peruvian National Ministry of Education to create and implement a music program for school children, join in and listen to how Carlos' dream for his nation has blossomed into a single man act to a blossoming symphony!]]>Making a difference. Providing an opportunity. Inspiring! Our inspiring educator today is a Peruvian Music professor. An instructor at a high school and the highly regarded Universidad Catolica Del Peru, he was the founder of the first College Big Band in Peru.Professor Carlos Granthon is self-educated and grew up in a tough economic condition with few opportunities. Now an advocate for reaching out to the needy community and some of the poorest neighborhoods in Peru, Carlos provides a hope for Peruvian children to pursue music and a possibility for music to become a passionate profession of choice. His work has inspired the Peruvian government at a national level. An innovator who has worked with the Peruvian National Ministry of Education to create and implement a music program for school children, join in and listen to how Carlos' dream for his nation has blossomed into a single man act to a blossoming symphony!]]>48:42nobig,carlos,music,life,a,story,society,education,band,making,telling,peru,difference,educators,inspiring,grantonIE31: Michael Chisolm. Giving Wings To Dreams.Sat, 27 Dec 2014 03:30:23 +0000Who hasn't once dreamed of flying? Flying is beautiful, practical, and above all poetic. Perhaps none has captured the grace of flying better than John Gillespe MaGee Jr. in his poem "High Flight." There exist no such thing as a single pilot without passion for life! Flying is passion expressed unbounded. Yet, flying for many is grounded by the self-imposed mental gravity denying their dreams. For many, it's lack of exposure or an opportunity. Eagle Flight Squadron is a nonprofit organization who's mission is to fulfill the dreams of many inner city youths who would never have had the opportunity to be exposed to the field of aviation.

As you peel the layers of Eagle Flight's mission, it's not just about flying. Its mission is a lifelong one. For 40 years, Eagle Flight Squadron has set out to provide leadership skills, academic excellence, teamwork, build character, and promotes service. The squadron's mission is to provide an opportunity to its students and through its rigorous curriculum, hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, produce a highly capable leader and a lifelong learner.

Joining us today is the director of Eagle Flight Squadron, Mr. Michael Chisolm. Following the legacy of success set forth by Reverend Russell White, Michael is a former graduate of the program and has returned to the Eagle's nest to guide and nurture along each student's dreams into a reality. Join in and listen to Michael share the success of this unique program!]]>Who hasn't once dreamed of flying? Flying is beautiful, practical, and above all poetic. Perhaps none has captured the grace of flying better than John Gillespe MaGee Jr. in his poem "High Flight." There exist no such thing as a single pilot without passion for life! Flying is passion expressed unbounded. Yet, flying for many is grounded by the self-imposed mental gravity denying their dreams. For many, it's lack of exposure or an opportunity. Eagle Flight Squadron is a nonprofit organization who's mission is to fulfill the dreams of many inner city youths who would never have had the opportunity to be exposed to the field of aviation.As you peel the layers of Eagle Flight's mission, it's not just about flying. Its mission is a lifelong one. For 40 years, Eagle Flight Squadron has set out to provide leadership skills, academic excellence, teamwork, build character, and promotes service. The squadron's mission is to provide an opportunity to its students and through its rigorous curriculum, hard work, sacrifice, and dedication, produce a highly capable leader and a lifelong learner.Joining us today is the director of Eagle Flight Squadron, Mr. Michael Chisolm. Following the legacy of success set forth by Reverend Russell White, Michael is a former graduate of the program and has returned to the Eagle's nest to guide and nurture along each student's dreams into a reality. Join in and listen to Michael share the success of this unique program!]]>48:44nopodcast,flight,training,eagle,life,story,michael,society,education,dreams,teacher,telling,opportunity,squadron,journals,inspiring,chisolmIE30: Andrew Matthews. Inspiring Through Words and Pictures.Thu, 18 Dec 2014 02:16:54 +0000Johnathan Livingston Seagull, The Little Prince. To Kill A Mockingbird. Tale of Two Cities. Being Happy! We have all had books that were especially meaningful to us as teenagers trying to find a direction in life, and even to this day the many lessons learned about character, grit, the spirit of adventure, and appreciation for our place in the world through our readings have become more relevant as adults. Just words, yet they continue to swirl and occupy the deep recess of our minds and continue to shape knowledge, laughter, and guidance along with added books to the library of our souls. What a beautiful process and gift to reach out, share, and inspire the many strangers of all backgrounds, age, gender, and cultures. Just words.

Our inspiring educator is an international speaker and author from the beautiful and friendly, Australia. His books, "Being Happy!" and "Follow Your Heart" have sold over 7 million copies worldwide in 42 languages in 69 countries! He has spoken to corporations around the world and has made over 3000 radio and TV appearances on 5 continents. His current book, "How Life Works", has been on the bestseller lists in SE Asia for the past 25 weeks. I'm grateful to have Mr. Andrew Matthews on Inspiring Educators. Please join us and see how Andrew's inspiring writings and powerful yet simple drawings have left many to become more introspective and empowered.

]]>41:40nopodcast,in,a,happy,andrew,matthews,publishing,being,motivational,empowering,seashell,nutshellIE29: Holly Dixon. Teach First New Zealand's Call To Action.Mon, 15 Dec 2014 03:11:56 +0000Teach First NZ works to reduce educational inequality by developing talented individuals into highly effective teachers and inspirational leaders. Inspired by the prestigious Teach First program in the UK and similar to the US Teach for America, Teach First NZ's mission is to find and place talented individuals in the classroom for two-year leadership development program and effect positive impact on student lives.

Our inspiring educator today is a Campus Marketing Manager for Teach First NZ, Holly Dixon. Holly is tasked with generating interest in teaching among university students and recruiting top talents to work with TFNZ. Join Inspiring Educators and listen as Holly provides a glimpse into the valued efforts in nascent stage of Teach First NZ.

]]>16:01nopodcast,new,training,first,education,teach,teacher,zealand,inspiringIE28: Massimiliano Tomba. The Big Picture. A Philosopher's Thoughts On Education.Fri, 12 Dec 2014 00:34:16 +0000As an educator, it's always important to look at the big picture and question where our lessons in the classroom will take our students? We are the messengers from the past and the gatekeeper to our students for their future.

Our Inspiring Educator today is Dr. Massimiliano Tomba. His job is to constantly question the impact of our thoughts and actions as related to the outcome and how we process our social and political surroundings. It's Dr. Tomba's passion to challenge his students to do more than merely regurgitate facts, but to question their very own conception of self and society.

Dr. Tomba received his Ph.D. in Political Philosophy from the University of Pisa. He is a Senior Researcher in Political Philosophy in the Department of Political and Juridical Sciences and International Studies at the University of Padova. Currently, Dr. Tomba is teaching a course on the Philosophy of Human Rights and Political Theory of Global Society for graduate students and a visiting instructor at the City University of New York (CUNY).]]>As an educator, it's always important to look at the big picture and question where our lessons in the classroom will take our students? We are the messengers from the past and the gatekeeper to our students for their future.Our Inspiring Educator today is Dr. Massimiliano Tomba. His job is to constantly question the impact of our thoughts and actions as related to the outcome and how we process our social and political surroundings. It's Dr. Tomba's passion to challenge his students to do more than merely regurgitate facts, but to question their very own conception of self and society.Dr. Tomba received his Ph.D. in Political Philosophy from the University of Pisa. He is a Senior Researcher in Political Philosophy in the Department of Political and Juridical Sciences and International Studies at the University of Padova. Currently, Dr. Tomba is teaching a course on the Philosophy of Human Rights and Political Theory of Global Society for graduate students and a visiting instructor at the City University of New York (CUNY).]]>01:10:40nopodcast,education,philosophy,k12,higher,massimiliano,tombaIE27: Jim Prothero. On Inspiring Teachers.Sun, 23 Nov 2014 08:15:52 +0000Suggest a topic to cover to a group of educators to teach and you'll end up with multiple lesson plans as unique as the number of teachers in the room. Each instructor will inevitably include their personal experience and design their own unique lesson plans. Ask educators about the essence of teaching and you'll get an answer as diverse as the population, but through it all, among the inspiring educators, there's always a common bond, a common mission, and a common passion. We are all subversive conformists.

Today's inspiring educator is Dr. Jim Prothero. A veteran high school and college English teacher as well as a valued friend and former colleague. Jim is also an avid water color artist, a published author, musician, and lover of all things that is not standardized and confining. A misfit at heart who has been forced to deal with responsibility and reality, Jim has inspired and continues to inspire a generation of young men and ladies to carry on the pen. In the twilight of his teaching career, he shares his poignant thoughts on inspiring educators.]]>Suggest a topic to cover to a group of educators to teach and you'll end up with multiple lesson plans as unique as the number of teachers in the room. Each instructor will inevitably include their personal experience and design their own unique lesson plans. Ask educators about the essence of teaching and you'll get an answer as diverse as the population, but through it all, among the inspiring educators, there's always a common bond, a common mission, and a common passion. We are all subversive conformists.Today's inspiring educator is Dr. Jim Prothero. A veteran high school and college English teacher as well as a valued friend and former colleague. Jim is also an avid water color artist, a published author, musician, and lover of all things that is not standardized and confining. A misfit at heart who has been forced to deal with responsibility and reality, Jim has inspired and continues to inspire a generation of young men and ladies to carry on the pen. In the twilight of his teaching career, he shares his poignant thoughts on inspiring educators.]]>08:17nopodcast,training,life,education,teaching,lessons,teacher,inspiringIE26: Alyssa Carson. Thirteen Year Old Training for Mission to Mars.Mon, 03 Nov 2014 06:41:36 +0000Teachers, parents, and mentors all find ourselves in a critical role to influence and provide guidance for our children and students. We sometimes forget that our children and students have valued lessons to teach us a thing about life. Our inspiring educator today is a young lady who has her sights beyond the confines and limits of our planet.

Her goal is to shoot for Mars and she just may become the first person to leave her footprints on the Red Planet. It's not just a passing interest, but she's highly dedicated to her passionate pursuit and with an enthusiastic support by NASA and support from her father, she's certain to see her reality exceed her dreams.

Joining us today is Astronaut in training Alyssa Carson and her father Bert. Listen in and see why NASA is taking Alyssa and others in her age group seriously and investing in their training and future.]]>Teachers, parents, and mentors all find ourselves in a critical role to influence and provide guidance for our children and students. We sometimes forget that our children and students have valued lessons to teach us a thing about life. Our inspiring educator today is a young lady who has her sights beyond the confines and limits of our planet. Her goal is to shoot for Mars and she just may become the first person to leave her footprints on the Red Planet. It's not just a passing interest, but she's highly dedicated to her passionate pursuit and with an enthusiastic support by NASA and support from her father, she's certain to see her reality exceed her dreams. Joining us today is Astronaut in training Alyssa Carson and her father Bert. Listen in and see why NASA is taking Alyssa and others in her age group seriously and investing in their training and future.]]>38:01nopodcast,to,astronaut,mars,one,nasa,mission,carson,alyssa,inspiringIE25: Marvin Callahan. My Students Were Going Hungry. I Had To Do Something.Tue, 28 Oct 2014 05:59:06 +0000We often hear about teachers making personal sacrifices to ensure student success. Perhaps, opening the class early in the morning to provide last minute help before a big test or staying late after school to assist with a science project before the weekend competition. It may also be helping to pay a deserving student's way to his or her senior prom.

Sometimes, the problem might be so fundamental in need, it shocks the community and the nation. Food, clothing, shelter. The very basic necessities you and I might take for granted are the very problems some of the students in our nation face.

Our inspiring educator today is Mr. Marvin Callahan, a first grade teacher at Comanche Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His students' problem is a fundamental one: hunger. Fed up and unable to ignore his students' struggles, Mr. Callahan decided to do something about it and take action.

Marvin, along with school counselor,Karin Medina, initiated a backpack program for the Comanche Elementary students in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The program provides entire meals for students who need the most help on the weekend. Every Friday,upwards of 30 families receive meals to take home, allowing them to get by the weekend. Join us as Marvin shares the struggles of his students and the backpack program ,and during the program's lowest moment, how the community rallied together to help sustain and ensure the program's success.]]>We often hear about teachers making personal sacrifices to ensure student success. Perhaps, opening the class early in the morning to provide last minute help before a big test or staying late after school to assist with a science project before the weekend competition. It may also be helping to pay a deserving student's way to his or her senior prom. Sometimes, the problem might be so fundamental in need, it shocks the community and the nation. Food, clothing, shelter. The very basic necessities you and I might take for granted are the very problems some of the students in our nation face.Our inspiring educator today is Mr. Marvin Callahan, a first grade teacher at Comanche Elementary School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His students' problem is a fundamental one: hunger. Fed up and unable to ignore his students' struggles, Mr. Callahan decided to do something about it and take action. Marvin, along with school counselor,Karin Medina, initiated a backpack program for the Comanche Elementary students in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The program provides entire meals for students who need the most help on the weekend. Every Friday,upwards of 30 families receive meals to take home, allowing them to get by the weekend. Join us as Marvin shares the struggles of his students and the backpack program ,and during the program's lowest moment, how the community rallied together to help sustain and ensure the program's success.]]>53:08nonew,school,hero,callahan,mexico,elementary,marvin,albuquerque,unsung,comancheIE24. Ricardo Silva. NFL to Teach for America. Inspired and Inspiring!Thu, 23 Oct 2014 18:47:38 +0000Many educators, prior to standing in front of the classroom, have held different occupations. For some it was all part of the master plan and a natural progression to pursue their passion as educators. For others, it was a chance meeting that would become a lifelong love and duty to serve their students and the community. Regardless of prior experiences or backgrounds, all educators are greatly defined and shaped by their unique developing years leading up to those initial days in the classroom.

So what if your previous background was part of an elite group of athletes? The best of the best. Your resume reads, NFL player. Detroit Lions. Free Safety. What qualities and contributions does an NFL player bring to the classroom and abilities to be a charismatic and transformational teacher, to motivate his students, and facilitate the success in and outside the classroom? Our guest and inspiring educator is Ricardo Silva. Join us as the former Detroit Lions' free safety shares his journey staying focused on his dreams while growing up in a tough neighborhood to helping his students fulfill their dreams as a classroom teacher serving for Teach for America.

]]>Many educators, prior to standing in front of the classroom, have held different occupations. For some it was all part of the master plan and a natural progression to pursue their passion as educators. For others, it was a chance meeting that would become a lifelong love and duty to serve their students and the community. Regardless of prior experiences or backgrounds, all educators are greatly defined and shaped by their unique developing years leading up to those initial days in the classroom.
So what if your previous background was part of an elite group of athletes? The best of the best. Your resume reads, NFL player. Detroit Lions. Free Safety. What qualities and contributions does an NFL player bring to the classroom and abilities to be a charismatic and transformational teacher, to motivate his students, and facilitate the success in and outside the classroom? Our guest and inspiring educator is Ricardo Silva. Join us as the former Detroit Lions' free safety shares his journey staying focused on his dreams while growing up in a tough neighborhood to helping his students fulfill their dreams as a classroom teacher serving for Teach for America. ]]>44:11nopodcast,silva,for,america,education,dc,teaching,teach,detroit,lions,inspiring,ricardIE23: Megan Callaghan. Renewed Hope for the Incarcerated Through College Education.Sun, 19 Oct 2014 21:22:32 +0000We continue our discussions about the innovative Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) to provide a college education for the incarcerated. Through BPI, inmates are given opportunity to study college courses and earn credits toward an Associates Degree. BPI has facilitated a unique opportunity for its graduates to reinvent their lives and provide renewed hopes for their future. The rate of success and contribution by BPI graduates reinforces the value of a college degree and the ability to transform individuals. Since its inception in 2001, BPI has grown and operates six satellite campuses throughout New York. Recently, Max Kenner, founder and executive director of BPI, was recognized for the innovative program and won a Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award.

Our inspiring educator is Dr. Megan Callaghan, the director of operation for BPI and a classroom instructor. As a professor of anthropology, Dr. Callaghan shares her personal insights and experience from teaching her highly motivated students, and as the operational director, she shares her pivotal role overseeing a dedicated group of instructors. Join us and learn about what former President Bill Clinton observed in his book Giving, BPI “is a good investment in a safer, more productive society.”]]>We continue our discussions about the innovative Bard Prison Initiative (BPI) to provide a college education for the incarcerated. Through BPI, inmates are given opportunity to study college courses and earn credits toward an Associates Degree. BPI has facilitated a unique opportunity for its graduates to reinvent their lives and provide renewed hopes for their future. The rate of success and contribution by BPI graduates reinforces the value of a college degree and the ability to transform individuals. Since its inception in 2001, BPI has grown and operates six satellite campuses throughout New York. Recently, Max Kenner, founder and executive director of BPI, was recognized for the innovative program and won a Smithsonian American Ingenuity Award.Our inspiring educator is Dr. Megan Callaghan, the director of operation for BPI and a classroom instructor. As a professor of anthropology, Dr. Callaghan shares her personal insights and experience from teaching her highly motivated students, and as the operational director, she shares her pivotal role overseeing a dedicated group of instructors. Join us and learn about what former President Bill Clinton observed in his book Giving, BPI “is a good investment in a safer, more productive society.”]]>43:36nothe,of,box,education,thinking,out,higher,bard,initiative,prison,innovative,bpiIE2: Paul Yingling. From the Battlefields to the Classroom!Fri, 10 Oct 2014 20:15:14 +0000Mr. Paul Yingling served three tours in Iraq and retired as a Colonel in the US Army. With impressive credentials in leadership and management, Paul is a prolific publisher and has written numerous articles on international relations and military affairs. He has also taught future Army officers at the US Military Academy at Westpoint, prior to serving along side his former students in Iraq.

What compels a retired Colonel with distinguished service and a wealth of knowledge and experience to pursue a career as a high school teacher? Mr. Yingling shares his passions and visions for educating the American youth. He further elaborates on one of the best articulated reasons for education in his speech, "The Aim of Education." Please join us and help us celebrate our inspiring educator, Mr. Paul Yingling.

]]>What compels a retired Colonel with distinguished service and a wealth of knowledge and experience to pursue a career as a high school teacher? Mr. Yingling shares his passions and visions for educating the American youth. He further elaborates on one of the best articulated reasons for education in his speech, "The Aim of Education." Please join us and help us celebrate our inspiring educator, Mr. Paul Yingling. ]]>32:33nopaul,education,veteran,teaching,k12,teacher,educator,inspiring,yinglingIE22: Donnell Hughes. A Second Chance.Tue, 07 Oct 2014 01:19:15 +0000What do you take for granted? What is the value of education? What role does liberal arts play in our civilization? If you were given a clean slate in life, a second chance, how might you live differently?

Our guest today has lived through a life of hell. Incarcerated when 17 and having spent 20 years in prison for 1st degree manslaughter and dealing drugs, his life took a dramatic change in course when given the opportunity to study and earn college credits while serving his sentence. Having earned a scholarship to study under Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), he was able to study and with each class and book consumed, the opportunity to pursue his dreams became a reality.

This is a story of redemption. This is the story of Donnell Hughes. His story will challenge your concept of forgiveness, the value of education, the power of optimism, and the dedicated educators who have never forgotten the promise of the forgotten. Please join us as Donnell shares his incredible journey to reinvent himself and outlook on life!]]>What do you take for granted? What is the value of education? What role does liberal arts play in our civilization? If you were given a clean slate in life, a second chance, how might you live differently? Our guest today has lived through a life of hell. Incarcerated when 17 and having spent 20 years in prison for 1st degree manslaughter and dealing drugs, his life took a dramatic change in course when given the opportunity to study and earn college credits while serving his sentence. Having earned a scholarship to study under Bard Prison Initiative (BPI), he was able to study and with each class and book consumed, the opportunity to pursue his dreams became a reality. This is a story of redemption. This is the story of Donnell Hughes. His story will challenge your concept of forgiveness, the value of education, the power of optimism, and the dedicated educators who have never forgotten the promise of the forgotten. Please join us as Donnell shares his incredible journey to reinvent himself and outlook on life!]]>01:03:20noIE21: Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega. The Timeless Beauty and the Gift of Music.Fri, 26 Sep 2014 00:23:21 +0000Heinrich Heine stated, “Where words leave off, music begins.” There simply are no words to describe how music completes a large part of our life journey. Music is universal, personal, magical, powerful, subtle, and romantic; music has the capacity to move and change us.

The world of music is a central part of our guest and inspiring educator, Maestra Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega. Through her lifelong passion, Sonia has introduced and touched the hearts and minds of children and their families in struggling neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The impact of centuries old music Maestra De Leon de Vega conducts for her audience, most experiencing live classical performance for the first time, has had a profound impact on even the toughest teens struggling to find meaning in their lives.

Sonia's musical journey through her "Discovering Music" program and the Santa Cecilia Orchestra is bringing musical balance and harmony to the greater Los Angeles community. Join us and hear how Sonia can instill inspiration without a single spoken word. Follow the baton and help us celebrate our unsung hero!]]>Heinrich Heine stated, “Where words leave off, music begins.” There simply are no words to describe how music completes a large part of our life journey. Music is universal, personal, magical, powerful, subtle, and romantic; music has the capacity to move and change us.The world of music is a central part of our guest and inspiring educator, Maestra Sonia Marie De Leon de Vega. Through her lifelong passion, Sonia has introduced and touched the hearts and minds of children and their families in struggling neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The impact of centuries old music Maestra De Leon de Vega conducts for her audience, most experiencing live classical performance for the first time, has had a profound impact on even the toughest teens struggling to find meaning in their lives. Sonia's musical journey through her "Discovering Music" program and the Santa Cecilia Orchestra is bringing musical balance and harmony to the greater Los Angeles community. Join us and hear how Sonia can instill inspiration without a single spoken word. Follow the baton and help us celebrate our unsung hero!]]>53:28noIE20: Amanda Washington. Continuing the Legacy of Booker T. Washington's Fight for Educational Equality.Wed, 17 Sep 2014 19:32:16 +0000As the great great granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, Amanda Washington's contribution to education remains very personal through her past work as a Spanish teacher for Teach for America. Her current challenge is to define and produce a more diverse educational opportunity for all children. As a graduate student at Columbia University's Teacher's College and as an intern with the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for African Americans (WHIEEAA), the legacy of Booker T. Washington continues through Amanda.

Join us and find out how the influence of her educator grandmother and family friend and civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill, have helped shape and form Amanda's calling in education. From the classroom to educational policy research, our inspiring educator has never forgotten the valued lessons of history, sacrifices made, and the continuing dedication needed for progress to be made.]]>As the great great granddaughter of Booker T. Washington, Amanda Washington's contribution to education remains very personal through her past work as a Spanish teacher for Teach for America. Her current challenge is to define and produce a more diverse educational opportunity for all children. As a graduate student at Columbia University's Teacher's College and as an intern with the White House Initiative for Educational Excellence for African Americans (WHIEEAA), the legacy of Booker T. Washington continues through Amanda.Join us and find out how the influence of her educator grandmother and family friend and civil rights attorney, Oliver Hill, have helped shape and form Amanda's calling in education. From the classroom to educational policy research, our inspiring educator has never forgotten the valued lessons of history, sacrifices made, and the continuing dedication needed for progress to be made.]]>34:19nobookertwashington,amandawashingtonIE19: Julia King. Marshmallows and Character Building is Part of Her Students' Success!Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:58:01 +0000“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” -Teddy Roosevelt.

The quote appropriately describes many dedicated educators. Our task is to share and rebuild hope, our situation is never ideal: logistical challenges, lack of supplies and funding, staff shortages, but what our schools can depend on are innovative, dedicated, and passionate individuals who stand in front of her class every single day, and staunchly demonstrate and encourage our children to overcome their own inhibitions and say, "You can do this. You will not fail, not on my watch."

Our inspiring educator today, in her own words, "...never thought I would be hanging out at the teacher's lounge." Thankfully she did. A former Teach for America educator who's practice and curriculum have been adopted on a National Scale by Teach for America and studied by 17,000 incoming corps members so far, her classroom goes far beyond math and reading. A Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, given to just one elementary school teacher from a corps of over six thousand, Ms. Julia King continues her fight for educational equity for the most needy students in her expanding role in and outside the classroom. Join us and listen in to Julia's inspiring story, turning her idealistic ideas to a working formula for student success.]]>“Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.” -Teddy Roosevelt.The quote appropriately describes many dedicated educators. Our task is to share and rebuild hope, our situation is never ideal: logistical challenges, lack of supplies and funding, staff shortages, but what our schools can depend on are innovative, dedicated, and passionate individuals who stand in front of her class every single day, and staunchly demonstrate and encourage our children to overcome their own inhibitions and say, "You can do this. You will not fail, not on my watch."Our inspiring educator today, in her own words, "...never thought I would be hanging out at the teacher's lounge." Thankfully she did. A former Teach for America educator who's practice and curriculum have been adopted on a National Scale by Teach for America and studied by 17,000 incoming corps members so far, her classroom goes far beyond math and reading. A Sue Lehmann Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, given to just one elementary school teacher from a corps of over six thousand, Ms. Julia King continues her fight for educational equity for the most needy students in her expanding role in and outside the classroom. Join us and listen in to Julia's inspiring story, turning her idealistic ideas to a working formula for student success.]]>51:11nobuilding,king,character,congress,prep,heights,julia,democracyIE18: John Pipe. Part 2: The Many Adventures of A New Zealand Teacher Sharing How Kiwis Get the Job Done!Sun, 07 Sep 2014 05:15:50 +0000We continue our discussions about education in New Zealand with Mr. John Pipe in Auckland. In this episode, John discusses the state of educators in New Zealand as well as the integration of Maori culture and new immigrants in the educational curriculum. John further shares his role as an administrator and reflects his position outside the classroom. Finally, John continues to share his wisdom and anecdotal lessons after 39 years as a teacher. ]]>54:08nonew,education,teaching,zealand,kiwi,johnpipeIE17: John Pipe. Part 1. The Many Adventures of A New Zealand Teacher Sharing How Kiwis Get the Job Done!Fri, 05 Sep 2014 04:18:40 +0000Many have admired Robin Willams' charismatic and transformational character Mr. John Keating in the heartwarming film "The Dead Poet's Society." Who can forget Mr. Keating commanding his students to rip away the introduction to the class poetry text, kindling the power and the beauty of poetry within the hearts of his students to follow their passion, or leaning in with his students at the black and white photos of once strong young men behind the glass case as he whispered, "...carpe diem...seize the day..." We should all be so fortunate to have a Mr. Keating in our life.

In a distant ocean away in a paradise called New Zealand, there is such teacher who has bravely challenged his students to gather ye rosebuds while ye may for the past four decades. The dynamic and inspiring educator is Mr. John Pipe who has never forgotten the meaning and the privilege to lead his students toward a life worth living with courage and honor. John's personal journey in education is a life mission that has impact beyond the classroom. Often putting his serious reputation on the line and role playing the many historical characters to bring history alive for his students, Mr. Keating would approve. Join in and listen to our unsung hero describe the educational challenges unique to New Zealand and how he is sustaining a marathon career influencing many, while staying innovative, taking risks, and hanging on to his sanity!]]>Many have admired Robin Willams' charismatic and transformational character Mr. John Keating in the heartwarming film "The Dead Poet's Society." Who can forget Mr. Keating commanding his students to rip away the introduction to the class poetry text, kindling the power and the beauty of poetry within the hearts of his students to follow their passion, or leaning in with his students at the black and white photos of once strong young men behind the glass case as he whispered, "...carpe diem...seize the day..." We should all be so fortunate to have a Mr. Keating in our life.In a distant ocean away in a paradise called New Zealand, there is such teacher who has bravely challenged his students to gather ye rosebuds while ye may for the past four decades. The dynamic and inspiring educator is Mr. John Pipe who has never forgotten the meaning and the privilege to lead his students toward a life worth living with courage and honor. John's personal journey in education is a life mission that has impact beyond the classroom. Often putting his serious reputation on the line and role playing the many historical characters to bring history alive for his students, Mr. Keating would approve. Join in and listen to our unsung hero describe the educational challenges unique to New Zealand and how he is sustaining a marathon career influencing many, while staying innovative, taking risks, and hanging on to his sanity!]]>47:44noIE16: Albert Kamara. Making a Difference Begins with One Hope and A Long Memory!Sat, 16 Aug 2014 06:37:56 +0000I would like to take you to a place where your worst 1st world problems become meaningless and absurd. Located on the NW part of Africa, Sierra Leone is a nation rebuilding itself after a bloody rebel war from 1991 to 2002. How do you rebuild a country and provide for basic necessities? How do you provide a future for its children and how do you teach your children to provide a future for a recovering nation? In a land where there is a teacher shortage, lack of infrastructure, listed on United Nation's 50 most Least developed nations, below Afghanistan and Haiti...where average life expectancy listed by the World Health Organization overall is 47 yrs compared to 79 for the US, the recovery is a daunting task. If you haven't heard of Sierra Leone, but you've seen the movie "Blood Diamond", the movie details the struggles of this war.

Our guest today is a native of Sierra Leone and his journey takes us from his home to one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities in the world, San Francisco, but the memory of his home and the plight of his people have moved him to action to do his part in securing a better future for Sierra Leonians, especially her children through education. Join us and listen to how our inspiring educator, Albert Kamara, is helping to rebuild a war torn nation, one student at a time.]]>I would like to take you to a place where your worst 1st world problems become meaningless and absurd. Located on the NW part of Africa, Sierra Leone is a nation rebuilding itself after a bloody rebel war from 1991 to 2002. How do you rebuild a country and provide for basic necessities? How do you provide a future for its children and how do you teach your children to provide a future for a recovering nation? In a land where there is a teacher shortage, lack of infrastructure, listed on United Nation's 50 most Least developed nations, below Afghanistan and Haiti...where average life expectancy listed by the World Health Organization overall is 47 yrs compared to 79 for the US, the recovery is a daunting task. If you haven't heard of Sierra Leone, but you've seen the movie "Blood Diamond", the movie details the struggles of this war. Our guest today is a native of Sierra Leone and his journey takes us from his home to one of the most beautiful and cosmopolitan cities in the world, San Francisco, but the memory of his home and the plight of his people have moved him to action to do his part in securing a better future for Sierra Leonians, especially her children through education. Join us and listen to how our inspiring educator, Albert Kamara, is helping to rebuild a war torn nation, one student at a time.]]>54:15noinspiration,africa,nonprofit,compassion,rebuilding,sierraleoneIE15: Marie-Claire Siddall. A Scenic Route to Education and Happiness.Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:17:45 +0000Some of us are fortunate to have a sense of direction at early age; we have a goal and passionately pursue our dreams. Few are lucky to find life's calling at such early childhood. Some of us are adrift in a vast ocean of life, in a boat without a rudder. There are few brave and determined souls who dare and eventually find a direction to boldly leave their comfort and safety zone, navigate through uncharted water, and make a difference in their lives while impacting others.

Our inspiring educator is Marie-Claire Siddall, who has taken a scenic route to her mission in life. One invaluable commodity every effective educator shares is altruism. It is Maire-Claire's daily pursuit to equip her students with a solid rudder to help them steer and navigate toward their calling in life! Join us and listen in to Ms. Siddall explain why and how she became a high school chemistry teacher and why she is an unsung hero!

]]>34:41noIE14: Paul Yingling. The "Aim of Education" Speech.Sun, 13 Jul 2014 02:29:53 +0000What should the role of education be in our society? What obligations do we have as educators for our students? What missions and challenges must our students take on towards progress rather than the inevitable change?

There are many compelling and thought provocative commencement speeches given from the well known: Steve Job's commencement speech at Stanford, JK Rowling's at Harvard, the "Wear Suncreen" speech that Kurt Vonnegut never gave, and others. Then there's Mr. Yingling's "Aim of Education." Ninety-nine percent of you have never heard of this speech and as a messenger, my aim is to make sure his eloquent speech on education, duty to humanity, and life is not assigned to obscurity. Paul's speech is sure to provide a moment of pause to reflect, recalibrate, and inspire.

]]>24:37noof,paul,inspirational,education,teaching,k12,speech,appetite,teacher,aim,commencement,moderation,yinglingIE13: Mary Liu. Those Who Can, Teach!Mon, 07 Jul 2014 05:51:48 +0000The beginning of every school year is a meeting of nervous energy, excitement, and undiscovered dreams to be fulfilled for each educator and her students. The end of every school year is a bitter-sweet goodbye for each class and its unique group of students who will meet in that hour, together, for that last time. The rewards of an educator is as many as her students and a priceless commodity that is individually gift wrapped; one that provides a timeless joy.

A teacher is many things. She is also an artist. Each hour lesson is carefully imagined, crafted, and performed to amazed smiles, tilt of heads in curiosity, and students are leaning forward on the edge of their seats. Time is flying because everyone is having fun! The prolific artist is an inspiring educator, Mrs. Mary Liu, who is determined to make sure her Harvard degree has a far reaching influence beyond her classroom. Join us and listen to the very talented Mrs. Liu on how she inspires her students while laughing all the way!

]]>42:25noIE12: Vic Braden. Coach, Teacher, Humanitarian, Tennis Ambassador.Wed, 02 Jul 2014 06:13:56 +0000Altruism is a virtue shared by the most passionate and dedicated educators and coaches. To be a great coach, you have to be a great teacher and to be a great teacher, you have to be a great coach.

Celebrated tennis coach Vic Braden's approach to tennis is much more than winning on the courts, but winning off the courts, and in his game of life, the more love you have, the better the game. His dedication to educate the masses about life lessons through tennis is legendary in the sports community. A teacher, philanthropist, writer, licensed psychologist, sports commentator, and much more, Vic has a lot of life experience to share and recommendations on educating our children. Listen up! The coach is giving instructions.]]>Altruism is a virtue shared by the most passionate and dedicated educators and coaches. To be a great coach, you have to be a great teacher and to be a great teacher, you have to be a great coach. Celebrated tennis coach Vic Braden's approach to tennis is much more than winning on the courts, but winning off the courts, and in his game of life, the more love you have, the better the game. His dedication to educate the masses about life lessons through tennis is legendary in the sports community. A teacher, philanthropist, writer, licensed psychologist, sports commentator, and much more, Vic has a lot of life experience to share and recommendations on educating our children. Listen up! The coach is giving instructions.]]>38:53noinspiration,education,teaching,tennis,passion,coaching,legacy,vic,bradenIE11: Dr. Laz. Touching Lives Through Music and Education.Fri, 27 Jun 2014 01:47:16 +0000Our knowledge is ultimately limited and no one truly has a privileged vantage point to define a child's accomplishment and what defines student success. Blind and deaf, Helen Keller went on to receive a university degree from Radcliffe College. Along her journey, social/political causes and international recognition, by Helen's side was her inspiring educator, Ann Sullivan, the Miracle Worker. Great educators are many things: mentor, leader, activist, humanitarian, a friend. Dr. David Lazerson or simply "Dr. Laz", has been providing hope for his students and parents where such outlook was in a short supply, and helping the many neglected to find their laughter once again.

Dr. Laz, has been educating, inspiring and changing people’s lives for over 30 years as an author, musician, teacher, and a conflict resolution specialist. Dr. Laz is recognized worldwide for his innovative and educational techniques in learning. He has been featured on many national and international TV specials, such as CNN, ESPN, The USA Network, The Montel Williams Show, and The Phil Donahue Show. He has also been written up in most major newspapers and magazines throughout the country. His book, Sharing Turf, was turned into the Showtime movie, Crown Heights, which starred Howie Mandel as Dr. Laz and chronicled his miraculous race relations efforts during the Crown Heights Race Riots in 1991. "Crown Heights" is available at NetFlix & Blockbusters. As a featured guest speaker at major conventions and book fairs throughout the globe, his lectures have been referred to as exciting, meaningful, entertaining, and thought-provoking.

]]>53:04noIE10: Alma Ward. A Mother Opens Up Her Purse. I Can See the Handgun. My Son Will Pass.Mon, 23 Jun 2014 07:44:04 +0000Courage is defined in many ways in our society. Many might think of a brave solider in the battlefield, a firefighter rushing into a burning building without regards for his own safety, or a bystander risking it all to rescue a stranger in harms way. Real courage is also defined by a caring classroom teacher stubbornly holding her ground, against all odds, to ensure society doesn't lose hopes and contributions of a child's future. Courage is demonstrated on a daily basis by an educator who will provide comfort and offer opportunity to a child when seemingly all else have abandoned hope.

You can't judge a book by the cover, nor can you judge an educator. Through her tough exterior she holds the last compassionate hope inside for many students already written off and relegated to a number. Our inspiring educator today has been tested on a daily basis to help society's forgotten children, never forgetting her mission, for a career that has spanned for 37 years. Join us and listen in to the journey filled with tough love by our unsung hero in education, Ms. Alma Ward.

]]>49:45noIE9: Suney Park. Turning Personal Struggles to Her Students' Success and on to the White House!Sat, 21 Jun 2014 04:20:45 +0000Suney Park is standing among other teachers in the White House being recognized by President Barak Obama. The President of the United States is teaching Suney how to properly fist bump! The recognition and laughter shared by those present on that blizzard day in Washington DC is a culmination of one incredibly dedicated educator and her personal sacrifice for her students.

Suney has taken her humble upbringing and personal struggles growing up to empower her students. Always putting students first, Suney has worked closely with Khan Academy to redefine her role in the classroom and has paved a way to provide a more individualized service to her students. Join us and listen to the sound of passionate joy in teaching, the pursuit of excellence, and how Ms. Park is always destined to lose a steak dinner bet with her students.

]]>42:40nopark,suneyIE8: Stephan Anagnost. From the United Nations to the Classrooms. All the World's a Stage.Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:28:55 +0000Imagine having a world citizen for your history teacher to allow you to witness and feel the utter horrors of the Holocaust, enable you to empathize with the nameless victims of the distant past, and provide an opportunity for you to apply and act on lessons learned. Our inspiring educator today provides more than mere facts to his students. Each class session is a time machine into the past and his students are more than casual observers of history.

Stephan Anagnost's journey is as fascinating as the class he teaches. A short journey from New York to Austria has led to a lifetime of dynamic involvement with the United Nations and efforts to help rebuild war torn former Yugoslavia. Now teaching for American International School on the peaceful island of Curaçao, his fight is to challenge his young future leaders about confronting their own fears and acting on preserving justice for humanity.

]]>Stephan Anagnost's journey is as fascinating as the class he teaches. A short journey from New York to Austria has led to a lifetime of dynamic involvement with the United Nations and efforts to help rebuild war torn former Yugoslavia. Now teaching for American International School on the peaceful island of Curaçao, his fight is to challenge his young future leaders about confronting their own fears and acting on preserving justice for humanity. ]]>40:47noIE7: Gloria Montiel. Education Is A Vehichle To Do Something Positive.Mon, 09 Jun 2014 05:26:08 +0000The inspiring story you are about to hear is a journey filled with promise fueled by optimism, passion, and resilience. It's a personal journey and mission of an unlikely hero, in her words, "...using education to do something positive."

Our guest today exemplifies the very best of intellectual curiosity tied with social responsibility and determined to use her love and lessons from literature as a conduit for progress. Gloria Montiel is a Harvard graduate and currently pursuing a PhD in education policy, evaluation, and reform at Claremont Graduate University. Join us and find out about Gloria's unique struggles and how she embodies hope for so many!]]>The inspiring story you are about to hear is a journey filled with promise fueled by optimism, passion, and resilience. It's a personal journey and mission of an unlikely hero, in her words, "...using education to do something positive." Our guest today exemplifies the very best of intellectual curiosity tied with social responsibility and determined to use her love and lessons from literature as a conduit for progress. Gloria Montiel is a Harvard graduate and currently pursuing a PhD in education policy, evaluation, and reform at Claremont Graduate University. Join us and find out about Gloria's unique struggles and how she embodies hope for so many!]]>35:53noeducation,harvard,k12,higher,santa,immigration,ana,phd,educator,undocumentedIE6: Clint Smith. Using Words to Move His Students.Wed, 04 Jun 2014 04:03:29 +0000The ability to touch the hearts and minds of our students and inspire them to move to action is a challenge every educator has to face in his or her career and must succeed. The ability to do so, simply with words, is what all educators strive to master, and perhaps none has done so with such eloquence, beauty, power, honesty, and from the heart as Mr. Clint Smith.

Passion to teach born from his experience in humanitarian work in Senegal to Soweto, South Africa to finishing up his commitment with Teach for America at Parkdale High School in Maryland, Clint ties his classroom lessons intimately with social justice and obligations. Recognized in the book, "American Teacher: Heroes in the Classroom", listen in as the once International Slam Poetry finalist, transforms and inspires his students through the beautiful words of poetry.

]]>31:28nolife,for,america,education,poetry,students,k12,teach,smith,passion,teacher,calling,clint,humanitarian,inspire,educatorIE5: Ioana Stoica. Education Was Our Escape and Salvation.Thu, 29 May 2014 23:10:38 +0000If there is one undeniable strength and the creative nature of education in the US, it's in large part due to the very diverse and talented population from which we can draw our teachers. These inspiring individuals bring and share their many priceless and unique first hand experiences and knowledge into our classrooms.

Ioana Stoica is a multi-talented young teacher in DC who has never forgotten her humble roots or the influence of her strong family bond. She and her family had to endure living under a very rigid cold war era communist rule undergoing a violent and chaotic revolution. From a turbulent circumstances to an uncharted new beginning in the US to a nationally recognized educator in her field, Ms. Stoica shares the power and lessons in humility.

]]>If there is one undeniable strength and the creative nature of education in the US, it's in large part due to the very diverse and talented population from which we can draw our teachers. These inspiring individuals bring and share their many priceless and unique first hand experiences and knowledge into our classrooms.

Ioana Stoica is a multi-talented young teacher in DC who has never forgotten her humble roots or the influence of her strong family bond. She and her family had to endure living under a very rigid cold war era communist rule undergoing a violent and chaotic revolution. From a turbulent circumstances to an uncharted new beginning in the US to a nationally recognized educator in her field, Ms. Stoica shares the power and lessons in humility.

]]>36:14noschool,inspiration,education,heroes,parents,ed,teaching,students,teachers,k12,higher,passion,dreams,memoirs,educators,unsungIE4: Bill Roberts. 3000 students, Memoirs of a Retired Teacher.Thu, 29 May 2014 21:51:25 +000037 years of dedicated service. What are the thoughts of a retiring teacher as he wishes best of luck to his final graduating class and closes his classroom door for the last time? 3000 students who have come and gone. What is an educator's legacy? What does life hold for a retired teacher?

Join us and enjoy the often hilarious adventures of Mr. Bill Roberts as he shares his wisdom and his "Two Rules in Teaching." Then, find out about his final unexpected gift from a former student.

]]>Join us and enjoy the often hilarious adventures of Mr. Bill Roberts as he shares his wisdom and his "Two Rules in Teaching." Then, find out about his final unexpected gift from a former student. ]]>37:17noschool,inspiration,education,heroes,parents,ed,teaching,students,teachers,k12,higher,passion,dreams,memoirs,educators,unsungIE3: Craig Brandenburg. Staying in Teaching for All the Right Reasons!Thu, 29 May 2014 21:42:02 +0000Sometimes, we get ourselves involved with a project without too much of expectation; just passing through. Then something magical happens. You become absorbed and engrossed with the task at hand. You find out, it's no longer just a job. It evolves into a calling, a passion, and before you know it, you rise to the top of your field! Such is the adventure of once a reluctant teacher, Mr. Craig Brandenburg, who found his love and mission in life within the walls of his classroom.

Awarded Teach for America's 2014 Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching, Craig shares how teaching found him and shares his important mission and the opportunity it provided. Listen to his continuing journey of inspiration, the unique gifts his students provide, and the secret to his success: pig feed and gummy worms.

]]>40:04noschool,inspiration,education,heroes,parents,ed,teaching,students,teachers,k12,higher,passion,dreams,memoirs,educators,unsungIE1:Sung Lee. Inspiring Educators VisionWed, 28 May 2014 00:43:57 +0000First episode of Inspiringeducators.net. Your host, Sung Lee shares his vision of recognizing our unsung heroes in education. Please visit our site and sign up for our mailing list. Class is in session. It's time to get inspired!]]>First episode of Inspiringeducators.net. Your host, Sung Lee shares his vision of recognizing our unsung heroes in education. Please visit our site and sign up for our mailing list. Class is in session. It's time to get inspired!]]>08:20noschool,inspirational,education,teaching,students,university,k12,teach,curriculum